Article of clothing

ABSTRACT

An article of clothing includes a front portion and a rear portion, the rear portion being substantially enclosed across the torso. A location below the waist includes an opening that more readily allows the wearer to eliminate bodily waste.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to articles of clothing, and more particularly to robes and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many instances in which individuals with a variety of medical conditions have difficulty dealing with their clothing. Many people with certain injuries or afflictions require the use of a wheelchair and may otherwise have limited mobility or a limited ability to manipulate their clothing. Hospitals often currently address this situation with hospital gowns that fasten at the wearer's back, but hospital gowns of that sort are difficult to fasten and unfasten and they are generally open more than may be necessary, drafty, and undesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally comprises an article of clothing that fastens in the front, in the manner of a robe. In certain versions, however, the clothing item may fasten along the side, at the rear, or can be more continuously formed so that it is pulled over the wearer's head rather than fastened about the torso.

A principal feature is the inclusion of an opening at the rear of the clothing item, below the waist. As discussed further below, the opening allows the wearer to more readily eliminate waste even while wearing an article of clothing that surrounds the wearer's back.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred and alternative examples of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred article of clothing; and

FIG. 2 is a back view of a preferred article of clothing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred version of an article of clothing in accordance with the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The article of clothing 10 is shown in this case in the form of a robe, although it may alternatively be a shirt, dress, skirt, pants, or other clothing item. The clothing item may be formed substantially from cloth such as cotton, polyester, or other natural or synthetic fabrics or materials.

The article of clothing 10 includes an upper portion 21 configured to cover a wearer's torso and a lower portion 22 configured to cover a portion of the body below the waist. In this example, the upper portion 21 includes an opening for the head and neck, as well as an optional collar. The waist 17 is generally defined by a belt 16 that is secured to the article of clothing by one or more belt loops. Optionally, the belt may be stitched or otherwise permanently secured to the article of clothing, as indicated by stitching marks at the back of the belt. Likewise, the belt loops are optional and need not be included.

As shown, the article of clothing 10 includes a pair of sleeves 11, 12. In this case, the sleeves are long sleeves that extend substantially to the wrist or hands of the wearer, though in other versions the article may have short sleeves or no sleeves at all. An optional pocket is also shown at the front of the robe.

The exemplary version includes an opening along a seam 15 at the front of the article of clothing, the seam being defined as the location where an edge from the right half 13 and an edge from the left half 14 meet. The two halves of the robe preferably include edges with no fasteners (other than the belt) but may optionally include buttons snaps, hook-and-loop, zipper, or other fasteners.

The rear of the article of clothing 10, shown in FIG. 2, includes an upper portion and a lower portion the lower portion being below a region at the waist of the wearer. The rear portion includes an opening 18 defined in the lower portion. As shown, the opening 18 is provided in a centrally located area just below the waist 17, which in this case is defined by the inclusion of the belt 16. In the exemplary version the opening 18 is round or oval in shape, though in alternate versions the opening may be shaped differently.

The rear of the article of clothing may be woven or otherwise formed such that the opening 18 is created as a region without any fabric or other such material. Alternatively, the opening 18 may be cut from a larger section of material to remove a swatch that defines the opening. A perimeter about the opening may be stitched with a finished edge, piping, or in other fashions for durability and finish.

In the preferred version, the opening 18 includes a top edge that is approximately six inches below the waist, which in the example as illustrated is defined by the belt. As shown, the opening is substantially circular in shape (with the substantially circular shape being defined in the rear portion of the article of clothing with the rear fabric portion lying on a flat surface). In addition, the opening is preferably 12 inches in diameter. In alternate versions, the opening is preferably in the range of 8 to 16 inches in diameter, but the dimensions may be tailored to the particular individual. Where the opening is not substantially circular, each of the height and width of the opening is preferably approximately equal to the diameter as noted above.

The left and right portions 13, 14 of the article of clothing include a second seam at the rear, in this case formed by the mating rear edges 19, 20 of the left and right portions. The rear seam extends downwardly, parallel to the front seam 15, from the lowest portion of the opening 18 to the lowest portion of the article of clothing. The rear seam may be finished with hook and loop or other mating fasteners on the mating rear edges 19, 20. In other versions snaps or other fasteners are provided, while in yet other versions no fasteners are used at all.

As shown, the rear seam includes an upper portion 25 and a lower portion 26. The upper portion preferably includes mating hook and loop fasteners, while the lower portion includes no fasteners at all.

A series of gathers 23, 24 are provided at each side of the article of clothing (a left and a right side, as shown in FIG. 2), the gathers 23, 24 being formed preferably only at the rear. In an exemplary robe, the gathers are formed beginning at a location about 7 inches below the waist and extending along a height of 7 inches.

The article of clothing as defined above allows the wearer to more readily eliminate bodily waste without needing to remove the article of clothing. At the same time, because it is formed from a continuous section of fabric at the rear along the upper torso, it is fully enclosed and less drafty at that location. For those who are confined to a wheelchair or otherwise have limited mobility, the article of clothing as described above provides a much easier means for urination or other elimination of waste.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow. 

1. An article of clothing, comprising: an upper portion configured to cover a wearer's torso, the upper portion having a front side, a back side, left arm hole, a right arm hole, and a neck; a lower portion configured to extend below a waist portion, the lower portion having a front side and a back side, the lower portion further being joined to the upper portion, the back side further having a left side and a right side; the back side of the lower portion further having a defined opening, the defined opening being below the waist portion and substantially centrally located between the left side and the right side.
 2. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the front side further includes a right half and a left half, the right half and left half forming a right edge and left edge, respectively, wherein the right edge and left edge form a front seam.
 3. The article of clothing of claim 2, wherein the left edge and the right edge are devoid of fasteners.
 4. The article of clothing of claim 2, further comprising a belt attached substantially at the waist.
 5. The article of clothing of claim 2, wherein the lower portion of the back side further comprises a back seam, the back seam extending from a lower edge of the defined opening to a lower edge of the back side.
 6. The article of clothing of claim 5, wherein the back seam further comprises a fastener.
 7. The article of clothing of claim 6, wherein the fastener comprises a hook and loop fastener.
 8. The article of clothing of claim 7, wherein the back seam further comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the hook and loop fastener being provided only along the upper portion.
 9. The article of clothing of claim 5, wherein the opening is substantially circular, having a diameter between about 8 inches and 16 inches.
 10. The article of clothing of claim 9, wherein the diameter is about 12 inches.
 11. The article of clothing of claim 5, further comprising a first series of gathers at the left side of the lower portion of the back side, and a second series of gathers at the right side of the lower portion of the back side.
 12. The article of clothing of claim 11, wherein the first series of gathers and the second series of gathers are each adjacent the opening.
 13. The article of clothing of claim 12, wherein the first series of gathers, the second series of gathers, and the opening each have a respective top portion, the top portions being approximately equidistant below the waist.
 14. The article of clothing of claim 11, wherein the first series of gathers and the second series of gathers each have a height, the height being approximately seven inches.
 15. The article of clothing of claim 5, wherein the opening further includes a height and a width, each of the height and width between about 8 inches and 16 inches.
 16. The article of clothing of claim 15, wherein the height and width are each about 12 inches.
 17. The article of clothing of claim 15, further comprising a first series of gathers at the left side of the lower portion of the back side, and a second series of gathers at the right side of the lower portion of the back side.
 18. The article of clothing of claim 5, wherein the opening is substantially circular, the substantially circular opening being defined in the lower portion when the lower portion is lying flat on a horizontal surface. 